SMAT 2024: Dubey-Suryakumar’s Strong Return, Urvil Patel’s Centuries Persist

In the sixth round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), Mumbai defeated Services by 39 runs with the fiery innings of Surya Kumar Yadav (70 runs in 46 balls), and Shivam Dubey (71 runs in 37 balls).

It was also the comeback match of both. While Suryakumar was away from the cricket field for a few days due to personal reasons, Dubey had not played competitive cricket since last September due to a back injury.

Dubey looked more aggressive during his innings and his innings included two fours and seven skyscraper sixes. On the other hand, Suryakumar’s innings included seven fours and four sixes. Both of them came back and made an amazing partnership of 160 runs in just 66 balls and recovered their team from a bad start.

In response to Mumbai’s 192 runs, Services could manage only 153 runs in the given 20 overs and lost the match by 39 runs. Shardul Thakur took four wickets for Mumbai, while Shams Mulani took three wickets.

Urvil Patel: Another day, another century in SMAT

A week ago, after equalling the fastest T20 hundred by an Indian, now Urvil Patel once again had a blazing innings, when against Uttarakhand in that game, he took a huge 115 in just 41 balls, which incidentally became a ton in just 38 balls for himself. This was Patel’s second T20 century. That is, the result would be an eight-wicket win for the team that allowed Gujarat to rise atop Group C.

Urvil hit eight fours and 11 sixes in his innings and the team reached the target of 182 with 41 balls to spare. Also, he broke Hardik Pandya’s record of maximum sixes this season with a total of 25 sixes. Previously, Urvil had broken the record of the fastest century by an Indian, held by Rishabh Pant earlier, as he had registered a century in 28-ball against Tripura last Wednesday.

Urvil is the one that holds the second-fastest List-A Indian century on record in SMAT. Urvil, however, didn’t attract any bidders for himself at the IPL auction for this season.

Batting is strong for Saurashtra too in SMAT

In a match played against Tamil Nadu, Saurashtra scored 235 runs by which they completed their half centuries by Harvik Desai (55) Ruchit Ahir (56), and Samar Gajjar (55).

This is Ahir’s second successive half-century in two matches, while Desai also scored his second successive half-century. In front of the huge target given by Saurashtra, Tamil Nadu fell 64 runs short in front of Chirag Jani and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja. This is Tamil Nadu’s fourth defeat in the last six matches and they have already been eliminated from the SMAT.

Karnataka out despite Shreyas’ hat-trick in SMAT

hat-trick gave Karnataka a win over Baroda. Shreyas picked up 4 wickets for 19 runs off 4 overs as they overcame Bhanu Punia, Hardik Pandya, and Krunal Pandya- all out on zero, within the first ball. The visitors team came down from 102/1 to 102/4 in the 11th over in response to Karnataka’s 169/8.

However, the lower-order rescuers, Shashwat Rawat (69 in 37 balls) and Vishnu Solanki (28 not out in 21 balls) helped Baroda pip the contest by four wickets with seven balls to spare. This win gave Baroda five successive victories in six matches and it scored level points with Gujarat and Saurashtra and ensured the knockout of Karnataka.

Andhra dealt a fresh blow to Kerala’s hopes, on a day that exposed much vulnerability in batting performances for both teams.

That major dent for Kerala’s hopes to go to the knockouts, lost to Andhra Pradesh by six wickets. Their fifth successive win meant that Andhra topped the group E, while Kerala’s four wins in six league matches were not enough for the knockouts. All they can do now is pray that Andhra wins over Mumbai in their last league game to go to the knockout rounds.

The bowlers of Andhra laid the foundation for their victory, making full use of the morning conditions in Indore and bundling out Kerala for just 87 runs. Fast bowler KV Sasikanth took 3 wickets for 23 runs. KS Bharat played a key role in Andhra’s easy win, scoring his second consecutive half-century and remaining unbeaten on 56 runs.

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